Madueke’s Late Penalty Edges Chelsea Past Crystal Palace

By Editor Thursday, December 28, 2023 0

Chelsea secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a late penalty by Noni Madueke.

The Blues, who had lost their previous three league games, took the lead in the 28th minute when Hakim Ziyech curled a superb free-kick into the top corner.

However, Palace equalised in the 71st minute when Wilfried Zaha pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired past Edouard Mendy.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw, until Chelsea were awarded a penalty in the 89th minute, after Zaha fouled Madueke in the area.

The 20-year-old winger, who had come on as a substitute, showed great composure to send Vicente Guaita the wrong way and score his first goal for Chelsea.

The win lifted Chelsea to 19 points, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, while Palace remained in 18th place, one point above the relegation zone.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter praised Madueke’s impact and said he was delighted with the team’s performance.

“He’s a young lad with a lot of talent and he took his chance very well. He’s been working hard in training and he deserved his opportunity,” Potter said.

“I’m very happy with the way we played. We showed character and resilience to bounce back from a difficult period. We created a lot of chances and we defended well. It was a very important win for us.”

Palace boss Patrick Vieira was unhappy with the penalty decision and said his side deserved at least a point.

“I don’t think it was a clear penalty. Zaha touched the ball first and Madueke made the most of the contact. I think the referee made a mistake,” Vieira said.

“I’m very proud of my players. They gave everything and they played with courage and quality. We matched Chelsea in every aspect and we were unlucky to lose.”